Support wire inserting apparatus for incandescent lamps



June 30, 1953 J. FLAWS, JR., ET AL 2,643,440

SUPPORT WIRE INSERTING APPARATUS FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed Feb. 25,1950 :5 Shets-Sheet 1 June 30, 1953 J. FLAWS, JR., ET AL 2,543,440

SUPPORT WIRE INSERTING APPARATUS FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed Feb. 25;1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -s' Inven lrovs: 79 7/ 73 John Flaws J11,

' Lee E. DiL irs,

b M K w Their A ttovnea.

June 30, 1953 J. FLAWS, JR., ET AL SUPPORT WIRE INSERTING APPARATUS FORINCANDESCENT LAMPS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnven tovs: John FLaws Jr. Lee 'E.Dilrts, b8 WT Then- A t tornea.

Filed Feb. 25, 1950 Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,643,440 SUPPORT WIRE I NSERTINQ ABBARATUS FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS JohnFlaws, In, East Cleveland, and Lee E. Dil'ts, South Euclid, Ohio,assignor's to General El'ee trio Company, a corporation :of New York Aplication February 25, 1950, Serial No. 146,344

9 Claims.

Our invention relates to apparatus for making filament supportingspiders of electric incandescent lamps. More particularly, the inventionrelates to automatic apparatus for inserting a plurality of supportwires into a stem portion of a lamp to develop a spider suitable forholding a filament.

Present lamp manufacturing practices usually provide for the automaticassemblage and fabrication of the lamp at successive Work stations of anautomatic, indexing turret machine, and in that connection provide forthe insertion of a group of wires for supporting intermediate parts ofthe filament at one of said stations. The insertion of a plurality ofsupport wires for each stem takes place simultaneously and is e'fiectedby thrusting the Wires, :end foremost, into -a glass portion of the stemwhich has been heated to a semiplastic state at preceding work stations.

One object of our invention is to provide apparatus for automaticallyinserting a group of support Wires into portions of lamp stemssuccessively presented at a work station of a mount making machine, theapparatus being especially suited to high rates of operation withextreme reliability. The apparatus automatically withdraws lengths ofthe very fine wire from supply spools and, after cutting ofi .saidlengths from the main supply, inserts them into a heated andsemi-plastic button on a glass arbor of the stem.

Another object of our invention is to provide wire inserting apparatushaving the separate sections for handling each support wire mounted forready movement or displacement to more accessible positions forservicing and adjustment. Diiliculty heretofore has been experienced 1nreplacing and rethreading the fine wire in the apparatus because of thecompact and complex nature of the apparatus and its close proximity toadjacent mechanisms. These conditions are further aggravated in that thelamp stem is advanced to the Work station occupied by the insertingapparatus by a turret which extends over one side of said apparatus.Accordingly, only one side of the inserting apparatus is exposed. It isan object of our invention to provide inserting apparatus wherein thewire handlingand adjustable portions thereof are movable temporarily tothe exposed side.

'Still another object of the invention is to provide wire insertingapparatus for lamp manufacture in which the separate heads for handlingeach wire are readily movable to an accessible position withoutdisturbing the operating means of said apparatus andare as readilyreturnable to their normal positions in the apparatus. Apparatus capableof the above movements allows manual adjustments and wire replacementsto be made 'in each separate head thereof with the greatest accuracy andease and results in shorter idle periods for the apparatus as a wholesince the timing and other features of the operating means thereof ismaintained at all times and does not require readjustment after theheads have been serviced. The above objects are attained by apparatusconstructed so that the heads thereof are mounted upon a supportrotatable in a horizontal plane and can therefore "be advanced to theexposed side of the apparatus by rotation of said support. The heads inthe apparatus are operated by vertical movement of actuating meanslocated upon the axis of rotation of the support and are angularlydisplaced by the temporary rearrangement thereof but their relationshipwith the operating or actuating mechanisms is not disturbed by saidmovement.

otherobjects and features of our invention will appear from the followig detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a .plan view of support wire insertingapparatus comprising our invention and illustrating its association witha support table and with the turret (shown in dot-dash lines) foradvancing a lamp stem into operative relation thereto; Fig. ,2 is aperspective view showing a lamp stem located within one lot the heads ofthe turret at the moment of completionof the operating eycle when theends of the jaws .of the inserting heads are withdrawing; Fig. .3 is .aside elevation developed froma transverse section through the upperportion of the apparatus, and shows one of the inserting heads and theassociated operating or actuating means directly after insertion of thesupport wire and withdrawal of the jaws of said head; Fig. 4 ,is aperspective view of that portion of the actuating mechanism locatedbelow the table; Fig. .5 is .a perspective view of the jaw-support slideand other associated operat ing means of .an inserting head; Fig. 5A isa planviewof the jawactuating subslide and associated means; Fig. .6 is.an exploded perspective view of the opposite side of the inserting headfrom that shown in Fig. 3 with the readily separable wire supply andguiding unit thereof shown raised above its normal operative position insaid head; and Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view on a large scaleof the elements comprising the shear means QI an inserting head.

The support wire inserting apparatus disclosed in the drawing isarranged about a work station A of a mount making machine to which alamp stem I (Fig. 2) is advanced in its course of manufacture, and hasan automatically produced sequence of operations effecting thesimultaneous insertion of three separate support wires 2 into the arbor3 of said stem I in each cycle. The inserting apparatus is mounted upona fixed table 4 at a position below that taken by the stem I and movesvertically to and from operative relation to the stems I which aresuccessive- 1y advanced to work station A by heads 5 located at spacedintervals about the periphery of the turret 6. The cycle of operation ofthe apparatus is synchronzied with indexing movements of the turret 6and, accordingly, with the advance of the stems I to work station A, bybeing under the control of the actuatingoapparaa tus I (Fig. 4) which islocated below the table 4 and which is controlled by the rotation of camshaft 8 which is the main driving means for the turret 6 and all otherlamp manufacturing apparatus (not shown) associated therewith. Likeother previously used inserting apparatus, the present apparatusrequires the end of the glass arbor 3 of the stem I to be heated to aplastic condition at immediately preceding work stations about theturret 6. The common driving means for the turret 6 and insertingapparatus, and the heating means for the arbor 3 correspond to thoseshown in the lamp manufacturing apparatus disclosed in United StatesPatent 1,907,532Flaws, dated May 9, 1933. The present apparatus isparticularly suited to cooperate with the stem advancing means,operating means and other elements of the patented apparatus.

The cycle of operation of the apparatus disclosed is initiated by anindexing movement of the turret 6 which advances the stem I horizontally(from left to right, Fig. 1) to the work station A and occurs at amoment when the inserting apparatus is at a lowered position below thecourse of movement of the stem I. The move ment arranges the stem l,which is securely held in an inverted position between two pairs of jawsI6II and I2-I 3, to the work station with the arbor 3 lowermost andaligned with a vertical axis through said station and with the exhausttube I4 uppermost and correspondingly aligned. V

The jaws I and I2, which are clamped tightly to opposite ends of asupport sleeve l5 held in an integral clamp I5 on the periphery ofturret 6, establish the position of the stem I, where as, the jaws IIand [3 apply a gripping force thereto sufficient to prevent anydisplacement of the stem I during the operation of the apparatus. Thejaw II is pivoted upon a pin I6 extending downward from the back of jawI0, and the jaw I3 is attached to a shaft I'I within the sup-port sleeveI5. Said jaws II and I3 are pressed against the stem I by thecontraction force of a helical spring I8 extending between a post I8 onthe jaw II and an ofiset ear IS on the collar I9 clamped to the upperend of shaft I'I. Separation of the jaws III-II and I2-I3 can beeffected to allow removal or insertion of the stem I by rotation of thecollar I9 which rotation is directly transferred to jaw I3 through theshaft [1 and which is introduced in the jaw II by engagement of alaterally projecting car 20 of said collar I9 with the post 2| extendingfrom jaw II. The stem I is definitely oriented so that the leads 22 and23 lie in a plane tangent to the adjacent edge of the turret 6 whenadvanced to the work station, and is also at a definite verticalposition.

During the index of the stem I to the work station, the insertingapparatus prepares for succeeding operations in the cycle by causingeach of the three inserting heads 24 comprising the apparatus towithdraw sufficient wire 25 from the supply spools 26 thereof to formthe support wires 2. The withdrawing operation is effected in eachinserting head 24 by motion of a pair of feed jaws 21 and 28 (Figs. '1,2, 3, and 6) having laterally extending forward ends located on oppositesides of the end portion of the wire 25 and taking a direction of motioncarrying them away from the spool 26 which is mounted upon a stationarypivot 29 retained by a bracket 30 (Fig. 6) clamped to the supportstandard 3| of the head 24. Ihe wire 25 at such times extends from thetop edge of the spool 26, between a pair of guide rollers 32 and 33 onvertical axes, below the horizontal guide roller 34 on the upstandinglug 35 on the bracket 30, and thence through a groove in the top edge ofarm 36 of said bracket 36, and between jaws formed by the end of arm 36and the spring finger 31, to a position between the ends of the jaws 21and 28 (Figs. 1 and 3). The end of the wire 25 lies within the notch 38(Fig. 7) in the blade 39 of the shear means of the inserting head at aposition between the mated cutting edges 39' and 40 of the blades 39 and40, respectively, and is advanced longitudinally through thecorresponding notch 38 of blade 40 by the movement of the jaws 21 and 28which close upon an end portion of the wire 25 between blade 39 and theend of spring finger 31. Prior to the closing movement of the jaws 21and 28, the end of the wire 25 is held in place by the pressure of thespring finger 31 which is held by the head of a pin 4| extending fromarm 36 and which is kept from turning out of position by a second pin 42attached to said arm 36 and fitting loosely in a hole in said springfinger 31.

Both the closing and feeding movements of the jaws 2'! and 28 are takenfrom the motion of a subslide 44 (Figs. 3, 5, and 5A) located in thehollow channel way 45 within the slide 46, and are effected through theadvance of corresponding cam portions 41 projecting from the forwardedge of each side of the subslide 44. The cams 41 have oppositelyinclined cam slots 48 therein accommodating corresponding rollers 49 onthe back ends of said jaws 21 and 28. The first advance of the cams 41forces the rollers 49 toward the bases of the slots 48 therein, causingthe jaws 21 and 28 to turn about the pivot pin 58 and close on the wire25. Further motion of the cams 41 pushes said jaws 21 and 28 forwardand, accordingly, moves the slide 46 in a direction concurring with thefeeding of the wire 25. The pivot pin 50 has an enlarged shank ormidportion on which the jaws 21 and 28 are held. The end portions (ofreduced diameter) of said pin 50 are mounted in holes located,respectively, in the side wall of slide 46 and in a cover plate 5I (onlypartially shown) covering said channel way 45. 'Motion does not occur inthe slide 46 during the first movement of the earns 41 because the slide46, which rests in ways in the support standard 3i, resists motion to adegree determined by the pressure of the friction block 52 against thetop edge thereof. The friction block 52 isa stationary element kept frommoving horizontally by a pin 53 which engages a vertical slot thereinand which extends from the support standard 3 l. Said block- 52 ispressed against the slide 4'5 by the helical springs 54 locatedbelow thebar 55 on the upper end of a' stud 56 extending upward through a portionof friction block 52 from pin 53. The motion of the subslide M. isderived from an operating lever 51 pivoted upon a pin 53 projecting fromthe lower portion of the support standard 3 l, and is transferred to thesaid subslide 44 by a link 59 having one end located within a slot inthe end of subslide and pivoted on pin 80 which extends through saidslot.

All of the inserting heads 24 take the abovedescribed feeding motionfrom a common source around which they are grouped and which comprises aspider 62 movable along a vertical axis 6| through the work station A.The cycle of operation is started with the operating lever 51 of eachhead 24 at a position where the roller 63 on the lower end thereof isbelow the flanged head of a stud 64 on one arm of the spider 62 and iscaused to progress by downward motion of said spider 62 carrying thestud 64 against the roller 53 and then further downward sufficiently toturn lever '1" an amount to feed the required length of support wire 25.The spider (i2 is fastened the upper end of a shaft 65 extendingdownward through a hollow shaft 66, which, in its correspondingassociation with the platform El, forms the sup-port means for theinserting heads 24, and has a vertical position controlled by theoperating means i of the apparatus located below the table 4. At suchtimes, the inserting heads 24 are at a lower level than they appear inFig. 3 in order to allow said stem l to be indexed to work station A,and the spider 62 is at a correspondingly lower position. The spider $32and platform (ii are secured to the shaft 65 and hollow shaft 65,respectively, which. shafts extend downward through a support bearing68, as shown in Fig. 4,. and have verticalpositions throughout the cycledetermined by means controlled by the rotative or angular position ofthe respective cams 69 and 10 on the main drive shaft 8 and engaging thecollars H and 12 on the lower ends of said shafts 65 and 66,respectively. The full weight of the assembly mounted on the shaft C 5is carried by the operating lever 14 through a yoke 13 which is locatedwithin a circumferential groove around the collar 1 I. The saidoperating lever M- is connected to opposite legs of the yoke 13 by thelinks 15 and it engages a track ll' in cam 59 through the roller 16.. Inthe presently described feeding movement of the inserting apparatus, thedrive shaft 8 is. turning the cam 69 so that the roller 16 is pulledtoward said drive shaft 8, and the lever 14 is turned in a clockwise(Fig. 4) direction about the fulcrum pin 18 on the upper end ofstationary bracket Hi. The full weight of the assembly mounted on theshaft 83 is similarly carried through a yoke 88 which is located withina circumferential groove around the collar 12, by an operating lever Blconnected to opposite legs of the yoke 85 by the links 82 and engagingcam 10 through the roller 83. The present stationary position of theinserting heads 24 persists during the rotation of the drive shaft 8 andthe cam 79, inasmuch as the roller 83 is located within a concentricportion of the track or groove 84 in said cam Hi so as to hold theoperating lever 8| at a single position with respect to the fulcrum pin85 on the bracket 86. Brackets l9 and 85 are stationary members fastenedto the bed (not 6 shown) of the apparatus and the table 4, respectively.

The inserting heads 24 are mounted at the same relative angular relationas that desired of the support wires 2, and are maintained at thisorientation about the vertical axis (5| by the arrangement of thesupport standard 3| of each head 24 upon the platform 61, whicharrangement is maintained throughout the operative cycle. The supportingshaft 66 for said platform 61 is rotatable in bearing 68 but, in turn,is fixed in its orientation by the keying effect of a post 81 extendingupward into a close fitting opening 31' (Fig. l) in said platform 61from the flat ring 88 located below.

Inasmuch as the positions of the inserting heads 24 are such that theheads are closely covered by a portion of the turret t for supportingand advancing the stem 1 and access thereto is usually blocked by stillother apparatus (not shown) at work stations on both sides thereof, theyare difficult to service and adjust. However, means are provided whichenable the support platform 6'! to be rotated about the center axis 55of the apparatus so that said inserting heads 23 are swung out fromunder the ttu'ret ti and carried around to the opposite side of the workstation to a position where they can be conveniently worked on. Therearrangement of the heads 24 is effected by rotating the flat ring 853which is mounted within a groove formed by the flange 89 (Fig. 4) on theupper end of the support bearing 68, the shoulder 89 on said flange, andthe cover plate 90 (Fig. 3). However, said ring 38 must first beunlocked by turning the hand lever (Fig. 1) so as to withdraw the end 92thereof from a peripheral notch in the ring. Normally the contractionforce of a spring 93 extending between the hand lever Eil and a post inthe upper surface of the table 4 keeps said hand lever 9i biased aboutthe upstanding pivot pin 54 in said table 4 so that it is kept in thesaid notch in the ring 88. The rotation of the assembly does not disturbthe fixed relative relation of the inserting heads 24 or their relationto the operating ele ments therefor inasmuch as the Operating studs 64are keyed and caused to turn with the platform 61 and said flat ring 88by the location of a laterally extending tongue 95 on the spider 62 in avertical slot or keyway in an elongated embossment' 96 on the bracket 91attached to said platform 61. The rotation of the spider 52 and platform61 during the displacement of the inserting heads 24 also turns theoperating shaft 55 and hollow shaft 66 and thereby carries said motion111% the p t ng means below the table 4 where it is taken up in theswivels formed by the collars H and 12 and the yokes I3 and 80 andresults only in a rotation of the collars TI and 12 with respect toyokes 13 and 80', respectively. Movemerit of the yokes T3 and 80, bothrotatively and outwardly from the collars H and 12, is prevented by theengagement of the yokes l3 and at with the guide post 98 extendingdownward from a boss on support bearing 68. Bolts 99 extending downwardthrough the cover plate 9!] and the flange 89 on the support bearing 68to the table t hold said support bearing 68 at a fixed position withinan opening in the table 4 at all times.

Inasmuch as interference between the inserting' heads 24 and the stemhead 5 can result in certain'instances if the former are not properlyorientated, means are provided in the enclosed switch I00 under controlof the hand lever 91 for effecting certain safety measures to avoidoperation of the apparatus at such times. The switch I is mounted uponthe upper surface of the table 4 at a position causing the screw IOI onthe hand lever 9| to engage the control button I02 of the switch I00 atintervals when the hand lever 9| and the inserting apparatus are inoperative positions and effects a change in an electrical circuit (notshown) usable for lighting a warning lamp and disconnecting the mastermachinecontrol switch when the hand lever 9| is out of said position andthe screw IN is withdrawn from contact with the control button I02.

Normal servicing operations consist in rethreading the wire 25 throughthe apparatus or in replenishing the supply thereof and can only beaccomplished satisfactorily when the inserting heads 24 are swung out inthe open before the work station A. Usually it is also preferable toseparate the assembly comprised of the supply spool 25, the guiderollers 32, 33 and 34 and the arm 36, which are mounted upon the bracket30, completely from the inserting head 24 as shown in Fig. 6 to permitthe ready handling of the fine wire 25. The latter operation is providedfor by the method of mounting the bracket 30 which has a midportion I03so shaped as to seat properly in the laterally projecting pad I04 of thesupport standard 3I and which is clamped thereto by the lock pin I05. Across pin I05 in the lower end of the lock pin I05 rides upon thesloping end surfaces of the boss III! on the bottom of the pad I04 andclamps the bracket 30 in place thereon when the assembly is in place andcan be turned into a vertical slot I08 by manual rotation of the knobI69 on the lock pin I05 when the assembly is to be removed. Very quickreplenishment of the wire 25 can be provided in any of the insertingheads 24 by having extra assemblies including the bracket 30 and afilled spool 26 available for substitution with the assemblies therein.

The concomitant stem-advancing and wirefeeding operations areimmediately followed by an upward positioning movement of the insertingapparatus which arranges each of the inserting heads 24 at positionsopposite the lower end of the arbor 3 of the stem I at which timefurther movement of the feed jaws 21 and 28 will insert the end of wire25 therein. The upward travel of the inserting apparatus is the resultof motion in the support platform 61 for the inserting heads 24 and isinitiated by virtue of the contour of that portion of the track 84 ofcam I0 being advanced into engagement with the roller 83 of the operat--ing means, and the consequent upward movement of the shaft 66 andplatform 61. The position of the wire feeding jaws 21 and 28 and thewire 25 remains unchanged during the present movement of the apparatusbecause the spider 62 of the operating means is moved upwardcorrespondingly by virtue of the contour of the track TI of cam 69 whichproduces an upward movement in shaft 65 to which said spider B2 isattached.

The final upward travel of the inserting heads 24 also results inanother operative function of the apparatus wherein the length of wire25 previously advanced by the feed jaws 21 and 2B is cut from the mainsupply thereof. In this operation the end portions of the wires 25extending out in front of the inserting heads 24 and supported only bythe feed jaws 21 and 23, are separated from the immediately adjacentportions thereof still within the inserting heads 24 to form theindividual support wires 2 therefrom. The shearing operation is effectedby opposite rotative motions in the blades 39 and 40 of the shear meansof each inserting head 24 and occurs when the upward motion of saidheads 24 carries the end of the pawl IIO (Fig. 6) of each head 24 acrossthe face of the stationary cam III and thereby forces the lower end ofthe shear actuating lever II2 outward away therefrom. The cam III isfastened to the upstanding post H3 on the fiat ring 88 at a positiondetermined by the position of the clamp I I4 therealong and is engagedby the rounded end of the pawl IIO for an instant just prior to thecompletion of the upward movement of the inserting head 24. Although thepawl I I0 is pivoted upon the pin I I5 extending from the lever I I2, itis blocked from rotative motion during the immediate interval by thestud II6 also extending from lever H2 and is only capable of swingingthe lever II2 about the pivot pin I H on the support standard 3| againstopposite rot-ative urging of a spring I I8 extending between posts insaid lever H2 and said support standard 3I. The interval of operation isrelatively short and causes a quick rotation of the shaft II9 (Fig. '7)and the surrounding hollow shaft I20 to which the shear blades 40 and39, respectively, are attached and to which the lever H2 is operativelyconnected by means of the links I2I and I22 and the arms I23 and I24,respectively. Sufficient rotative motion is created within the blades 39and 40 to turn the opposite edges of the notches 3B-38', which haveheretofore held the wire 25, beyond a mating position so that said wire25 is severed. Positive shearing action is assured between the adjacentedges 39'40' of the blades 39 and 40 by the expansion force of a helicalspring I25 located about the opposite end of the shaft II9 within ashallow cavity in arm I23, which spring I25 presses against the collarI26 on the end of shaft H9 and the arm I23 which, in turn, bears againstthe arm I24 on hollow shaft I20. The pin I2'I which fastens collar I26to shaft I I9 has opposite ends located within slots in the arm I23 andcauses said arm I23 and shaft II9 to turn as a single unit whileallowing longitudinal motion of said arm I23 along the shaft II9 asrequired. At the end of the upward travel of the inserting heads 24, thepawl I I0 passes beyond the cam I I I and the contraction force of thespring I I8 turns the lever I I2 and consequently the blades 39 and 40back to their original positions. At the limit of the return motion thestop screw I28 in a projecting lug on the lever II2 comes to rest upon aprojecting lug I29 on the support standard 3|.

The upward travel of the inserting apparatus also causes the upsettingof the lower end of the glass arbor 3 which develops a concentration ofglass in the form of a button I30 therein so that the support wires 2can be more deeply and securely imbedded therein. As shown in Fig. 3,the upset occurs when an anvil I3I mounted upon the top of the bracket91 on the platform 61 and in direct alignment with the operating centerSI of the apparatus is caused to engage and push upward on said arbor 3by the movement of said platform 61. A pointed protuberance I32 at thecenter of the anvil I3I enters the open end of the arbor 3, which in thepresent instance is a hollow tubular cane, and in so doing assists inthe formation of a symmetrical button I30. The upset operation dependsupon the end of the arbor 3 being heated at stations previously taken bythe stem 1 in the manner customary in prior art inserting apparatus and,as described in United States Patent 1,698,321, Staudenmeier which isassigned to the assignee of the present invention, inserts aprotuberance I32 into the button I30 for steadying said arbor 3 in thesubsequently occurring inserting operations.

The next operation ofthe apparatus provides for the insertion of thesupport wires 2 now held by the jaws 21 and 28 of each inserting head 24andis produced by still further forward motion of said jaws 21 and 28toward the stem I. The movement occurs after the spider 32 and platform6'! have advanced to the upper limit of their motion in positioning the.Jinserting heads 24 opposite the stem I when the spider 62 is againmoved down and thereby effects longitudinal motion of the jaws 21 .and'28 in ahorizontal plane. The support wire 2 advances longitudinally andplunges end-first into the still somewhat plastic button I30 to a depthwhich "will cause it to be securely held in place thereby. The jaws 2!and 2.3 hold the support wires 2 relatively near the forward end and donot allow them to buckle during the inserting operation although thebutton l30 has been cooled somewhat by contact with the anvil I'3I andresists the insertion of the Wires 2 to a certain extent. Accuratecontrol over the depth of the insertion is established in succeedingcycles of operation by limiting the forward movement of the jaws 21 and28 through the presence of a stop I33 attached to the sup-' portstandard .3I in the path of movement of the slide 46.

The inserting apparatus now has only to be disengaged from the supportwires 2 and the arbor 3 and to be moved down to its retracted positionto complete the cycle of operation. The disengagement of the apparatustakesplace first, when the jaws 21 and 28 are opened and then retractedby an upward movement created in the spider 52 by the operating meansand is effected by a counterclockwise (Fig. 3) motion in the operatinglever 'I, the first such motion that has occurred therein during theabove-described cycle of operation. The upward movement of the spider62, at this time, carries the extending ends of corresponding bars I34like that shown in Fig. 3 against the rollers 63 on the operating levers57 of the inserting heads 24 and induces movement in the levers 51inasmuch as the bars 534 are prevented from rocking about the supportpins I35 held by spider 62 by the :stop screws I36 also retainedthereby. The resulting motion in the subslide 44 of each insertingapparatus first causes the cams 4? to be displaced within the slide .45,.as the friction block 52 continues to resist motion .of said slide 48under such conditions, and moves the cams 47 so that the jaws 21 and 28are opened. When the jaws 21 and 2B are sufficiently open, the jaw 21seats against the nuts upon a screw I31 held by jaw 28 and passingthrough an opening in jaw 27 and the subslide 44 and slide &6 move as aunit. At the limit of.

the jaw retracting motion, the slide 46 engages the stop I38-(corresponding to stop 133) on the support standard IN. The entireapparatus is then at the position shown in Fig. 3. It should be notedthat the roller 63.:is at all times spaced either from the head of stud64 or the bar I34 and, therefore, does not have the full movement of thespider 162 which is greater than needed in the present instance andcould, therefore, effect the feedin iof longer support wires ifrequired,

10 The effective downward and upward limits of motion of the spider 62are controlled by adjusting the position of the stud 64 thereon ortilting.

the bar I34 by adjustment to screw I38.

The downward movement of the inserting heads 24 occurs after thecomplete retraction of the jaws 21 and 28 and is effected bycorresponding downward movements of both spider 2 and platform 6'! underthe control of the operating means located below the table i. In thedownward movement of the inserting heads 24%, the pawl IIB of the shearmeans is momentarily turned back about the pin H5 against thecontraction force of a spring I39 extending between posts in lever H2and said pawl Iii! so that the shear means is not operated. The stem Iis free of all apparatus when the inserting heads 24 are completelylowered, and can be indexed out of work station A and a succeeding cycleof operation can be started.

Although a preferred embodiment of our invention has been disclosed, itwill be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific construction and arrangement of parts shown, but that theymaybe widely modified within the spirit and scope of our invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. Ina lamp mount-making machine, the combination with a carrier havingheads at the periphery thereof adapted to support lamp stems and carrythem alon a horizontal path to suecessive work stations including asupport-wire inserting station, of support-wire inserting apparatuslocated at said inserting station and comprising a plurality ofinserting heads located under said carrier so as to be difiicultlyaccessible, each inserting head including means for carrying a spool ofwire and for severing a length of the wire and inserting it end-foremostinto a portion of a stem at said station, support means carrying saidinserting heads in fixed relative relationship and mounted for rotationat will in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis occupied by the stemin the stem-holding head at said station whereby to enable said heads tobe brought out to the front of said carrier for servicing andadjustment, and vertically reciprocable actuating mechanism connected toeffect operation of the inserting means in the several saidinserting'heads, said actuating mechanism being mounted on the axis ofrotation of said inserting heads for rotation therewith whilemaintaining the relationship between said inserting heads and saidactuating mechanism.

2. Support wire inserting apparatus of the class described comprising ahorizontal platform mounted for rotation at selected intervals about-.of rotation of said platform for rotation therewith while maintainingthe relationship between said heads and said actuating mechanism.

3. Support wire inserting apparatus of the class described comprising ahorizontal platform mounted for rotation at selected intervals about 1 avertical axis, a plurality of inserting heads mounted on said platformin fixed relationship about the said axis and each including supportmeans for a spool of wire and severing and inserting means for severinga length of wire and carryin it forward rectilinearly for insertionend-foremost into a stem, and vertically reciprocable actuatingmechanism connected to effect operation of the said inserting means,said actuating mechanism being mounted on the axis of rotation of saidplatform for rotation therewith while maintaining the relationshipbetween said heads and said actuating mechanism, and means includingreleasable lock means normally holding said platform in a fixed angularposition but operable to release the platform to permit its rotation totemporarily relocate said heads for servicing and adjustment thereof.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising inserting heads locatedabout a vertical axis and each including support means for a spool ofwire and severing and inserting means for severing a length of wire andfor inserting it endforemost into a plastic portion of a stem located insaid axis, support means for the inserting heads comprising a horizontalplatform and a longitudinally movable vertical shaft aligned with thesaid axis for carrying the platform and the inserting heads to and fromoperative relation to the stem, actuating means located adjacent thevertical path of movement of the inserting heads and engaged during saidmovement for operating said severing and inserting means on said heads,and means rotatable about the axis of the shaft for supporting the saidactuating means and including means for fixing the rotative position ofthe platform but permitting the rotation of said platform at will topermit the inserting heads to be temporarily relocated for servicing andadjustment.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising inserting heads locatedabout a vertical axis and each includin inserting means for carrying afilament support wire and inserting it endforemost into a plasticportion of a stem located in said axis, support means for the insertingheads comprising a horizontal platform having attached thereto alongitudinally movable hollow vertical shaft aligned with the said axisfor carrying the platform and the inserting heads to and from operativerelation to the stern and for permitting rotation of the platform atwill to permit the inserting heads to be temporarily relocated forservicing and adjustment, a vertical inner shaft located within thehollow shaft for rotation with the hollow shaft but for reciprocationindependently thereof, and actuating means attached to the upper end ofthe said inner shaft and connected with the inserting means of saidinserting heads so that the relationship between said actuating meansand said heads is not disturbed by rotation of said platform.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising inserting heads locatedabout a vertical axis and each adapted to insert a filament support wireend-foremost into a plastic portion of a stem located in said axis,support means for the inserting heads rotatable about said axis topermit the inserting heads to be relocated for servicin and adjustment,a vertical shaft located in said axis and extending through an openingin the support means, actuating means attached to the upper end of theshaft and connected to actuate the inserting heads upon verticalmovement of the shaft, and operating means in engagement with thelowerend of said shaft for reciprocating said shaft vertically, saidoperating means being connected to said shaft by a swivel connection topermit the independent rotation of the shaft duringrelocation of theheads.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising insertin heads locatedabout a vertical axis and each adapted to insert a filament support wireend-foremost into a plastic portion of a stem located in said axis,support means for the inserting heads comprising a horizontal platformand a longitudinally movable hollow vertical shaft located in said axisfor carryin the platform and the inserting heads to and from operativerelation to the stem, a vertical inner shaft located within the hollowshaft for rotation with the hollow shaft but for reciprocationindependently thereof, actuating means attached to the upperend of thesaid inner shaft and connected to the inserting heads for actuationthereof upon reciprocation of said inner shaft, operating means inengagement with the lower ends of each of said shafts for moving saidshafts vertically, said operating means being connected to said shaftsby swivel connections to permit rotation of the shafts together with thesaid platform for relocation of the heads to permit servicing andadjustment thereof.

8. Support wire inserting apparatus of the class described comprising ahorizontal platform mounted for rotation at selected intervals about avertical axis, a plurality of inserting heads mounted on said platformin fixed relationship about the said axis and each including supportmeans for a spool of wire and severing and inserting means for severinga length of the wire and carrying it forward rectilinearly for insertionend-foremost into a stem, a vertical hollow shaft disposed in said axisand attached to said platform and mounted for vertical reciprocation tocarry said platform and insertingheads into operative relation to saidstem, means mounted at a fixed elevation but rotatable about said hollowshaft and locked in fixed angular relationship to said platform and alsocarrying tripping means for actuating the severing means of said headsupon vertical movement thereof, an inner shaft located within the saidhollow shaft for rotation with the hollow shaft but for reciprocationindependently thereof, actuating means attached to the upper end of saidinner shaft and connected with the inserting means of said insertingheads, and operating means for reciprocating said shafts to first moveboth shafts vertically upward to cause said tripping means to actuatesaid severing means and to then move said inner shaft downward toactuate said inserting means, said operating means being connected tosaid shafts through swivel connections whereby to permit rotation ofsaid platform at will without disturbing the relationships between saidinserting heads and the actuating mechanisms therefor.

9. A wire inserting head comprising a standard, severing mechanismincluding cutting jaws mounted on said standard, a pair of insertingjaws mounted adjacent said severing jaws, movable support and actuatingmeans for said inserting jaws mounted on said standard for recip- 14away from said gripper means beyond said severing jaws to periodicallydeliver lengths of wire severed from said spool.

- JOHN FLAWS, JR.

LEE E. DILTS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NameDate Pagan Feb. 9, 1915 D'eJong et a1. Mar. 8, 1927 Number

